Summer has arrived in the Kuyahoora valley with all its green beauty and light.  The plant above is the lovely Angelica whose roots I gather in the spring when it first arises.  It is now in full bloom in this small clearing along the West Canada Creek.  I spend many hours this time of year in full gathering regalia (ie.backpack, hiking boots, field guide, and bags for gathering) both on and, more usually, off the trail in the swamps, meadows and woods.  This time of year is full to the brim with herbal activities including planting, weeding, gathering, making tinctures, oils and putting plants on screens in the attic to dry. This is a picture of myself and my apprentice Hillary gathering Coltsfoot along Shed Brook, a small tributary of the West Canada.  The Coltsfoot is being gathered to make a tincture to be mixed with other herbs, including Wild Cherry, to make a cough syrup. Coltsfoot is a European native that has naturalized in great abundance here and is usually first recognized in early spring when it’s bright yellow, dandelion-like, flower first pops up.  The leaves appear after the flower dies back and are rather inconspicuous and unnoticeable if you’re not looking for them.

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 The great wild and beautiful queen of mid-June is, of course, the Wild Rose that is everywhere and emanates an exquisite scent that is floating through the entire valley at this very moment. It is one of my greatest summer joys to gather these small, delicate petals albeit, many of my farmer friends absolutely abhor this humble plant for its thorns and invasive tendency to completely overtake a perfectly good pasture.

There are hundreds of species of wild roses across North America this one being Multiflora Rose and, according to the USDA Plant database, it is considered a noxious weed in many states.I find it to be one of the most useful of home remedies and also delicious when used to make a cordial or honey.  I like to make Wild Rose vinegar that I use to treat any external, hot, irritated condition especially sunburn.  This naturally has to be diluted, usually 6 to 1, or it will sting a bit.

The beauty and abundance of this valley and the surrounding hills absolutely teems from every direction this time of year and I never cease to be in a perpetual state of awe and gratitude.  What the people of this region have lost, and in some instances never really had, in economic abundance and growth, they have gained in untamed richness and seemingly endless resources that are severely lacking in much of the world.

 In order from left to right are Purple Flowering Raspberry, Indian Hemp(toxic) and Meadow Rue.